A tree may need tree pruning for a range of reasons : to remove ill or storm-damaged branches to thin the crown to allow new growth and better air movement to reduce the height of a tree to remove obstructing lower branches to shape a tree for design purposes Once the choice has been made to prune, your next decision is whether or not to tackle the job yourself. In the case of a giant tree where you need to remove large branches in the upper area of the crown, it could be best to hire professionals. Large tree pruning, particularly, can require climbing and heavy saws or perhaps cherry-pickers and chain saws. However there are new tools available that can make this a manageable job. ( Click here for more. )

Targeting a Pruning Cut

Whether the tree is little or big, the trick is to prune the undesired branch while defending the stem or trunk wood of the tree. Tree branches grow from stems at nodes and pruning always happens on the branch side of a stem-branch node. Branches and stems are divided by a lip of tissue called a stem collar which grows out from the stem at the base of the branch. All pruning cuts should be made on the branch side of this stem collar. This protects the stem and the other branches that could be growing from it. It also permits the tree to heal more effectively after the prune. To stop ripping of the bark and stem wood, especially in the case of bigger branches, use the following process : Three steps to pruning large branches. One. Make a little wedge formed cut on the underside of the branch just on the branch side of the stem collar. This will break the bark at that point and stop a tear from running along the bark and stem tissue. two. Somewhat farther along the branch, starting at the top of the branch, cut all of the way through the branch leaving a stub end. 3. Ultimately, make a third cut parallel to and just on the branch side of the of the stem collar to reduce the length of the stub as much as feasible. a similar process is employed in pruning one of two branches ( or one large branch and a stem ) joined together in a ‘u’ or ‘v’ crotch.

This is known as a drop crotch cut. Make the 1st nick cut on the underside of the branch you are pruning well up from the crotch. For the second cut, cut fully thru the branch from within the crotch well up from the ridge of bark joining the two branches. Finally, to shorten the leftover stub, make the 3rd cut just to the side of the branch bark ridge and approximately parallel to it. Should I Seal the Wound? Trees naturally close wounds that are the result of branch removal, so ideally, pruning wounds should be left to shut without any assistance from you. Also, since most pruning should be done in late fall or winter, insects shouldn’t be much of an issue . However there exist some circumstances when it is preferable to seal the wound with a non-asphalt-based pruning sealer such as Tanglefoot Latex Pruning Sealer. In particular, you should seal pruning injuries on trees that are susceptible to damaging insect infestation such as birch, oak, and elm trees.

Also, if the weather is very dry, a pruning sealer will help the tree retain more moisture. When to Prune For most trees, the dormant season, late fall or winter, is the best time to prune though dead branches can and should be removed at any point. Pruning during the dormant period minimizes sap loss and subsequent stress to the tree. It also minimizes the chance of fungus infection or insect infestation as both fungi and insects are probably going to be in dormancy at the same time as the tree. Eventually, in the case of deciduous trees, pruning when the leaves are off will give you a better idea of how your pruning will affect the shape of the tree. Some fruiting and flourishing trees should be pruned at other times of the year, depending on whether or not they flower on the previous year’s growth or not.

After pruning, it is often a good idea to give the tree a good fertilizing so that the tree can naturally close the pruning wounds and to reduce the stress placed on the tree. The TreeHelp yearly Care Kit is a brilliant manure program to boost the general health of the tree after pruning. don’t prune more that 25% of a tree’s branches. When deciding how much to prune a tree, as little as possible is typically the best rule of thumb.

All prunes place stress on a tree and increase its weakness to illness and insects. Never prune more than 25% of the crown and ensure that living branches compose at least 2/3 of the peak of the tree. Pruning more risks fatally causing damage to your tree. In a few cases, typhoon damage, height reduction to avoid crowding utility lines or maybe raising the crown to meet civil bylaws, your pruning choices are made for you. But even in these examples, prune as little as you can get away with.